The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Mathew Kolawole, has appealed to the organised labour to dialogue with the government. Kolawole said the assembly was worried, as an arm of government, about the incessant strikes in the state.

He urged the workers to sheathe the swords in the interest of the people and allow dialogue to prevail, adding that the workers’ strike in the last three weeks over salary arrears was not in the interest of the state.

“They are compiling their report and as soon as it is submitted, we would look into it. Some of us have also made extra efforts to meet with the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (PSNC) and appealed to them to allow a level playing ground to prevail.”

The speaker said the strike was affecting both the people and government, adding that the best way to go about it was for both sides to show understanding.

Meanwhile, the Movement for the Emancipation of Kogi People has condemned the poor state of education and healthcare in the state.

A statement by the association’s Chairman, Yakubu Asipita, and Secretary, Bodurin Olufemi, in Lokoja accused the government of abdicating its responsibility to the people

They blamed the mass failure of students in public examinations in the state this year on the carefree attitude of the state government.

The group also stressed that many people were dying in the state due to the lack of medical care, as government hospitals have remained shut due to the action.